We should all be pineapples (part 2)
When the iFit app for the elliptical suggests "Pineapple Grove Speed Play" for your workout and your logo is a pineapple, you press play. What I love about these workouts is that the trainer always shares fun facts about the location, whether it's a beach in Costa Rica, a village in Croatia, or a pineapple grove in Maui.
So in about 24 minutes, I had burned some calories AND learned three fun facts about pineapples that directly tie into my mission for us all to lead authentic lives. If you need a refresher about why my logo is a pineapple and what it has to do with authenticity, watch me explain it here or read more here. Now for some fun facts:
1. Pineapples take up to 24 months to grow.
If I could have stopped in my tracks, I would have. You mean to tell me it takes over twice as long to grow a full-sized pineapple as it does to bring a human baby to full term?! Nuts, right?!
But also...not so much. It took me over 35 years to become my authentic self... and I still work on it regularly. For something that represents exactly what it means to be authentic, it makes a lot of sense that it would take its sweet (literally) time getting ready to present itself to the world.
2. Pineapples regenerate.
Think twice about ditching that prickly crown the pineapple wears. You can replant it to grow a new pineapple and eventually an entire new crop of pineapples. Amazing!
That's the thing about the proverbial crown I insist we balance on our heads as if we're royalty. When we hold our heads high and are confident being our true selves, we lead by example. Showing up as our authentic selves inspires others to do the same. In many cases, that gives someone a new lease on life or a completely fresh start. In turn, they inspire someone else to do the same and before you know it...you’ve created a pineapple grove.
3. Pineapples were a symbol of wealth.
Waaay back in the day, when pineapples made their way to Europe, they were super expensive. The rich displayed them as centerpieces to show off their wealth and didn't eat them until they were nearly rotting. Those with less means could rent a pineapple for the night! They would display it or carry it around to show off. Again, nuts, right?!
Pineapples are more accessible nowadays, but the fact remains that owning your authenticity and stepping into your power are indeed a sign of wealth: your mind and confidence are rich. It's also a good thing no one is renting a pineapple to look like a hot shot anymore: pretending to be someone you're not is the antithesis of keeping it real.
Final Thoughts
I loved these facts and hearing them definitely made the "speed play" go faster. Not to mention, I got a chuckle out of learning that Hawaiian pizza was invented in Ontario, Canada but given that moniker because it sounded catchier.
I also found it fitting that as the workout ended and I pieced these parallels together, a huge rainbow randomly sprung up over the pineapple grove. Pineapples and rainbows -- what could be better?! 🍍🌈
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